Vertical cable management system with ribcage structure

ABSTRACT

A cable management system is provided including a rack for holding telecommunications equipment, and a ribcage cable support member along a vertical side of the rack. The ribcage cable support member includes a plurality of forwardly and rearwardly extending ribs. The ribs each include cable retention tabs. A plurality of spools are provided for cable storage on the ribcage cable support member. Holes through the ribcage cable support member allow access between the front and rear portions. An additional rack may be positioned on an opposite side of the ribcage cable support member to the first rack, and two columns of ribs are provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cable management systems fortelecommunications cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suppliers and users of structured connectivity communications systems inlocal area networks often have difficulty managing the cabling anddemarcation and patching points such as in communications closets andcomputer rooms. Here, large numbers of data, voice, and videocommunications circuits, cables and connectors may be concentrated intosmall areas on relay racks and in communications cabinets resulting incongestion of cabling and connectors. In the past, connectivity systemsattempted to ease the congestion of cabling and connectors byintegrating cable management devices within and around the racks andcabinets. In the connectivity industry, horizontal cable managementdevices may be provided between each row of patch panels. As a result,applications with a high number of network connections or circuits mustgenerally double the amount of racks and floor space needed in order toaccommodate the horizontal management devices for cable management.Minimizing the space consumed by the cable management systems, andmanaging the cable in an efficient manner are desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a cable management systemincluding a rack and a ribcage cable support member. The rack includes abase, and two upwardly extending side supports configured and arrangedfor holding telecommunications equipment having cable connectionlocations. The rack further has a front, a rear, and a vertical side.The ribcage cable support member is mounted to the rack along thevertical side. The ribcage cable support member includes a middlesupport having a front, a rear, and two sides. The middle supportincludes a plurality of spools positioned on the front, and a pluralityof holes between the front and the rear. Two columns of spaced-apartribs are on each side of the middle support. Each column of ribsincludes a first set of ribs extending transversely away from the middlesupport on the front; and a second set of ribs extending transverselyaway from the middle support on the rear. Each rib further includes acable retention tab, where each cable retention tab extends generallytoward the ribs of the corresponding set in the other column. First andsecond cable positioning chambers on opposite sides of the middlesupport are defined by the middle support and the two columns of spacedart ribs.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a cable managementdevice for use with a telecommunications equipment rack. The cablemanagement device includes a generally planar spine section extending ina longitudinal direction, and mounting holes for receipt of fasteners tomount the planar spine section to the rack. First and second sets ofribs extend from the planar spine section in opposite directions, eachopposite direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Each ribhas a main portion extending parallel to the planar spine section andtransversely to the longitudinal direction. Each rib further has a tabon an end of the main portion extending transversely to the mainportion. The tabs of each of the first and second sets of ribs extend inthe same general direction so as to define a U-shaped device along thelongitudinal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a cablemanagement system in accordance with the present invention, includingtwo racks with two patch panels in one of the racks, and a verticalcable management assembly positioned between the two racks.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the cable management system of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view of the cable managementsystem of FIG. 1 without the patch panels;

FIG. 4 is an exploded rear perspective view of the cable managementsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front view of one of the ribcage members used in the cablemanagement system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a right side view of the ribcage member of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the ribcage member of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of one of the cable spools used inthe cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the cable spool shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a first perspective view of one of the edge protectors usedin the cable management system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a further perspective view of the edge protector of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the patch panels and a portion of one ofthe racks of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the patch panels and the portion of the rackshown in FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The cable management systems of the present invention allow formanagement of cable in and around telecommunications equipment racks andcabinets. The telecommunications cable may be fiber optic-based,copper-based, and combinations thereof. The cable management systemmaintains and directs cables connected to the telecommunicationsequipment.

Referring now to the figures, one preferred embodiment of a cablemanagement system 20 is shown including two vertical racks 22 configuredand arranged for holding telecommunications equipment, such as a patchpanel 24. Two patch panels 24 are shown in one of the racks 22. However,it is to be appreciated that additional patch panels 24, and othertelecommunications connectivity equipment or cable management devicesmay be mounted to each of racks 22.

Each rack 22 includes a base 26, a top 28, and two side supports 30, 32extending therebetween. Each side support 30, 32 includes a plurality offront and rear holes 34 for receiving fasteners to mount thetelecommunications equipment to each rack 22. Side supports 30, 32 eachgenerally define a U-shape and include side holes 36 for mounting toother racks, or in the case of the present invention, for mounting to aribcage cable support member 60. Cable management system 20 generallydefines an X-axis 100, a Y-axis 102, and a Z-axis 104. The side supports30, 32 extend vertically in the direction of the Y-axis 102. The frontand rear of system 20 face in the direction of the Z-axis 104. Ribcagecable support member 60 cooperates with racks 22 to vertically managecable running to and from the equipment held by each rack 22. Typically,each cable connects to the respective piece of equipment, and the cablelength travels horizontally to the nearest ribcage cable support member60 where the cable length is supported and/or held in the desiredposition and directed for the distal end to be connected at anotherconnection site.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 16 and 17, patch panel 24 is anexample of one type of telecommunications equipment mountable to racks22. Patch panel 24 includes opposed flanges 40 defining holes 42 forreceipt of fasteners 44. A front 46 of patch panel 24 defines aplurality of front connection locations 48 including a plurality ofsockets 49 for receiving a connector plug of a copper-based patch cordor other telecommunications cable. A rear 50 of patch panel 24 includesa plurality of rear connection locations 52, such as insulationdisplacement connectors 53 for connecting to copper-basedtelecommunications cable. The connection locations 48, 52 are arrangedin rows in patch panels 24. Patch panel 24 is the subject of U.S. Ser.No. 09/092,545, filed Jun. 5, 1998, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference.

Ribcage cable support member 60 is shown positioned between two racks22. Additional ribcage cable support members 60 can be positioned on theother ends of racks 22 along the X-axis 100, and between additionalracks 22, if provided. Ribcage cable support member 60 includes a middlesupport 61 and two opposed columns of ribs 63 extending forwardly andrearwardly. Ribcage cable support member 60 of the illustrated preferredembodiment includes a central U-channel 62 including two side sections64, and a middle section 66. Each side section 64 includes a pluralityof holes 68 for receipt of a fastener 69.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6, 12 and 13, U-channel 62 includes aplurality of spools 70 for use in cable management, such as for storingexcess lengths of cable. Each spool 70 in the illustrated preferredembodiment includes two supports, having legs 74 which are held byfasteners 76 to middle section 66 of U-channel 62. Each spool 70 furtherincludes a cable retention flange 78 spaced from main middle section 66.Other spools are possible for cable storage.

Middle section 66 of U-channel 62 further preferably includes aplurality of openings 82 to allow for cable to pass between a front to arear of ribcage cable support member 60. It is to be appreciated thatany number of spools 70 can be provided, as well as any number ofopenings 82, as desired. In addition, the positioning of spools 70 andopenings 82 can be varied as desired for particular cable managementsituations. For example, no spools 70 are provided in a lower portion ofmiddle section 66. In the illustrated embodiment, spools 70 can beprovided on the back of middle section 66 if desired.

To facilitate ease of manufacture, U-channel 62 can be made fromidentical upper and lower portions 84, 86. See FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 8.Notches 88 are provided on mating ends 90 of upper and lower portions84, 86. U-channel 62 may be made from various materials, including sheetmetal or molded materials.

Ribcage cable support member 60 further includes two ribcage members110, 112 positioned on opposite sides of middle section 66. Each ribcagemember 110, 112 includes a central spine 114, and first and second sets116, 118 of ribs 119 extending in opposite directions. First set 116 ofribs extends outwardly from spine 114 in the front. Second set 118extends rearwardly from spine 114 in the opposite direction. Betweeneach of the individual ribs 119 are spaces 120 for receipt of one ormore cables. Distal ends 122 of each rib 119 include a tab 124 extendingat an angle to both the rest of the rib, and to direction of extensionof the columns of ribs. Main portion 121 of each rib extends in thedirection of the Z-axis 104, and tabs 124 extend at an angle toward theother set of ribs in a plane defined by the X-axis 100 and the Y-axis102. As shown in the example embodiment, tabs 124 can extend at an angleupwardly or downwardly. While main portion 121 of each rib 119 extendshorizontally in the preferred embodiment, cable positioned in space 120tends not to fall out or slide out during handling of other cables dueto the angled extension of tabs 124.

Each ribcage member 110, 112 includes openings 126 for receipt offasteners 69 so as to facilitate assembly with U-channel 62 and racks22. To facilitate manufacture, it is preferred that ribcage members 110,112 are identical and that each be made from identical upper and lowerportions 130, 132. See FIGS. 3, 4 and 9-11. Notches 134 are provided atmating ends 136.

As shown in FIG. 6, ribcage cable support member 60 defines a frontcable chamber 140, and a rear cable chamber 142. Cable enters and exitseach of chambers 140, 142 in spaces 120 between ribs 119, or at upper orlower ends 144, 146 of ribcage cable support member 60. Also, cable canpass between chambers 140, 142 through openings 82.

Ribcage members 110, 112 can be stamped from metal, and bent to theconfiguration shown. Alternatively, ribcage members 110, 112 can be madefrom molded materials. To assist with protection of the cables,especially fiber optic cables, and copper cables susceptible to damagefrom being cut and/or being bent beyond a minimum bend radius, resilientplastic edge protectors 150 are provided on ribs 119, and also supports72 of spools 70. Each edge protector 150 includes opposed snaps 152,opposed stops 153 and a radius cable protection portion 154. Each edgeprotector 150 can be conveniently snapped on to rib 19 or support 72. Afurther edge protector 160 is positioned around, the edge of openings 82of U-channel 62. If ribcage members 110, 112 are made from moldedmaterials, the edge protectors 150 can be molded integrally with them,if desired.

In use, cable extends from a front of patch panel 24 generallyhorizontally to a space 120 between ribs 119 and into front chamber 140.The cable is supported and managed by ribcage cable support member 60where the cable may be: (1) wrapped around one or more spools 72, (2)passed through opening 82, (3) passed through upper or lower ends 144,146, or (4) positioned back in a space 120 between ribs 119 to a desiredpatch panel 24, or other telecommunications equipment for connection tothe equipment. Cable at the rear of patch panel 24 also extendsgenerally horizontally to rear chamber 142 where ribcage cable supportmember 60 supports the cable at one of the ribs 119 at the rear wherethe cable is allowed to be directed toward the distal end connectionsite in a similar manner as the front cables.

In the preferred system, a rib 119 is advantageously positionedvertically adjacent to each row of connection locations on the frontand/or the rear of the equipment in the racks 22. The ribs 119 offersupport for each cable entering and exiting rack 22 at the particularheight for connection to the connection locations of thetelecommunications equipment. In that type of use, should it bedesirable to later remove a cable from a space 120, access is convenientsince only the cables from one row of connection locations are typicallypositioned in that space 120. The use of the individual ribs for eachrow of connection locations allows for the racks 22 to include a higherdensity of connection locations by avoiding or reducing the use ofhorizontal cable management devices between the equipment in each rackif desired.

Having described the present invention in a preferred embodiment,modifications and equivalents may occur to one skilled in the art. It isintended that such modifications and equivalents shall be includedwithin the scope of the claims which are appended hereto.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A cable management system comprising: a) a rackincluding two upwardly extending side supports, the rack beingconfigured to hold telecommunications equipment having front cableconnection locations; and b) a ribcage cable support member mounted toone of the side supports of the rack, the ribcage cable support memberincluding: 1) a middle support having a front, a rear, and two sides,the middle support including a spool positioned on the front; and 2) twocolumns of ribs, each column of ribs being located at one side of themiddle support, each column of ribs extending transversely away from thefront of the middle support, each rib including a main portion extendingfrom the middle support and a cable retention tab, each main portion ofthe ribs of one column being horizontally aligned with the main portionof one of the ribs of the other column, each cable retention tabextending generally toward the ribs of the other column, wherein a cablepositioning chamber is defined by the middle support and the two columnof ribs; c) wherein the ribs of the two columns are vertically spacedapart so as to provide a rib adjacent to each row of front cableconnection locations of telecommunications equipment whentelecommunications equipment is mounted to the rack.
 16. The system ofclaim 15, further including telecommunications equipment mounted to therack.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the rack is a first rack and,further comprising a second rack, the ribcage cable support memberpositioned between the first and second racks.
 18. The system of claim15, wherein the middle support defines a plurality of holes between thefront and the rear.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the cableretention tabs extend at an angle toward the ribs of the other column.20. The system of claim 15, wherein the middle support extends along theside support in a longitudinal direction, each cable retention tabextending from the main portion of the rib at a non-perpendicular anglerelative to the longitudinal direction.
 21. The system of claim 15,further including two columns of spaced-apart ribs extendingtransversely away from the middle support on the rear.
 22. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the spool is centrally positioned on the front of themiddle support.
 23. The system of claim 15, further including aplurality of spools centrally positioned on the front in a verticalarray.
 24. The system of claim 15, wherein the spool is positioned onlywithin a vertical spacing defined between free ends of the cableretention tabs of the two columns of ribs.
 25. The system of claim 15,further including an edge protector mounted to the main portion of eachrib.
 26. The system'of claim 25, wherein the edge protectors areU-shaped and include two opposed inner snaps that snap mount to the mainportion of the ribs.
 27. The system of claim 15, wherein an unobstructedcable pathway is defined between each column of ribs and the spool.